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(No Model.)

J. W. LUTHE & A. E. JEAVOUS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC ANNUNOIATOR.

NOQ 435,440. Patented Sept. 2, 1890 itmoseo a? r: Q 7 WM Mommas MW if v%I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WV. LUTHE AND ALFRED E. JEAVOUS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; SAID JEAVOUSASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAID LUTHE.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,440, datedSeptember 2, 1890.

' Application filed January 23 1890. serial No. 337,796. (No model.)

tain features of construction and in combination of parts, hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

I-Ieretofore electrical an nunciators have usually been reset by hand,and this was the source of much annoyance and trouble, more especiallyin hotels or buildings having many call-buttons and different servantsto answer the calls.

. was answering a call, and the person whose duty it was to reset theannunciator had neglected to do so, in which case with the second callthere would be nothing to indicate which was the last call that requiredattention. We have therefore devised an annunciator in which theresetting is automatic, each call resetting the pointer of the lastprevious call or calls.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are front elevations, thelatter having the face-plate removed. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan,'thecasing being broken away to show the internal construction.

A represents the casing of the annunciator, and a the face-platethereof.

B B B represent a primary series of helices secured, preferably, to theback wall of the casing, the coresB thereof protruding through holes inthe face-plate.

O 0 represent a secondary series of helices secured, preferably, to theback wall of the casing, the respective cores C thereof extendingforward to or near to the faceplate. Each helix B has an opposing helix0, arranged approximately in the relative positions shown more clearlyin Fig. 2. Wires 1) of the diifer= 5o ent'helices B lead, respectively,for instance,

For instance, suppose a servant to the different rooms or stations andconnect with the call-buttons. Wires b of the difierent helices Bconnect in common with wire M, the latter leading to the battery, wire Mincluding in the circuit the secondary series of helices, for instance,as shown. Somewhere in the circuit is connected call-bell D, and beyondthe battery wires d d branch off to the different call-buttons for thedifferent rooms or stations.

E are pointers or needles pivoted, respectively, at e to the face-plate.Each pointer has a stop e, and between this stop and the adjacent core B(to the right hand, as shown in the drawings) the pointer may vibrate.Each pointer in its normal position bears against its stop and pointstoward the adjacent core 0, the relation of parts being such that thepointers when left free will assume their normal positions by gravity.

To thevfront ends of core B are removably secured, respectively, smalldisks F, bearing numbers corresponding with the numbers of the rooms orstations with which the respective helices B are connected. In Fig. 1the left hand disk F, supposed to be numbered 1, is omitted or removed.These disks are preferably secured to the respective cores B by means ofsmall screws, so that the disks may be removed or changed, if need be.This sometimes is a very great convenience, for instance, in cases wherethe numbers of the rooms or stations have been changed. I-Ielices B aremuch stronger in magnetic force than the opposing helices O. This may bedone by winding less wire on helices O or by shunting a portion of thecurrent around the secondary series of helices.

The operation of the device is as follows: Suppose the occupant of roomNo. 2 presses the call-button, thereby closing the circuit with helix B,No. 2, the electric current of course passing, also, through thesecondary series of helices. Core B, No. 2, will attract pointer No. 2,and by reason of its greater magnetic force will draw the needle awayfrom the opposing core C, and by means of the residual magnetism in thecore of the primary helix will hold the pointer for some minutes, afterwhich the needle will return by gravity to its normal position; butsuppose, meantime, a second call from some other roomfor instance, fromroom No. 4in which case pointer No. 4 will respond and indicate suchcall; but simultaneously therewith the magnetic force of secondary helixN0. 2 will return pointer No. 2 to its normal position. In case two ormore calls are simultaneously made, two or more pointers will respondand indicate the respective rooms, and the next call will return .all ofthe pointers to their normal positions.

What we claim isv 1. An electric annunoiator comprising a series ofprimary helices and a series of opposing secondary helices, withpointers adapted to vibrate between the cores of opposing helices,primary and secondary, the primary helices beingconnected, respectively,with the difierent call-buttons and connected in common with thebattery-wire, the latter including in its circuit the secondary helicesand call-bell, branch wires leadingfrom the battery to the differentcall-bells, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric annunciator, the combination, with primary andsecondary helices and pointers, substantially as indicated, of removabledisks or caps mounted, respectively, on the different cores oftheprimary helices in front of the face-plate, such removable caps ordisks bearing numbers corresponding with the numbers of the rooms orstations where the call-buttons are located that connect with therespective primary helices, substantially 35 as set forth.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 2d day of December, 1889.

JOHN W. LU'l-IIE. ALFRED E. JEAVOUS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. DoRER, WILL B. SAGE.

